Convertible riparian structure



34. v. M. CRUIKSHANK CONVERTIBLE RIPARIAN STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1945 INVENTOR.

Hka/wbs /7. Clfll/KSl/ANK BY idwm'v CONVERTIBLE RIPARIAN STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 12,-1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 15M- az- Jan; 13, 1948. v. CRUIKSHANK CONVERTIBLE RIPARIAN STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Remus/K Chum MK Mr W ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1948. I H 2,434,457

CONVERTIBLE RIPARIAN STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

1 This invention has relation to riparian structures and comprehends .a convertible structure located alongside a waterway, body of water or watershed which is adapted to Selectively. serve a twofold purpose, namely, that of a thoroughfare or promenade under normal conditions andas a dike or levee during flood periods or threatened In many communities, .especially those, located along the banks of .waterwaysor bodies of water or adjacent to.watersheds,.fiood conditions are a potential hazardatall times but usually they occur at very infrequent. intervals which many.

instances may. be yearsapart. Nevertheless to avoid the extreme flood damages resulting there-' from, the only means previouslyresorted to has. been the building of permanent dikes or levees which at best are unsightly and hence detract materialy from the appearance ofthe community while serving a useful purpose for only a very restricted length of time and at rare intervals.

It is therefore the broad object of the present invention to provide a convertible riparianstructure which is so designedthat the same may be readily and expeditiously converted from its normal use as a thoroughfare or promenade tofunction as a dike or levee so as to effectually serve as a means for holding back abnormal flood waters which periodically overflow the banks of a waterway or are deflected by a watershed.

As a further. feature, the invention resides in the provision of a structure of the indicated character in which all of the means for anchor ing, bracing and supporting the panel units which serve as the dike wall are disposed on the land side of the structure when the same is converted to its use as a dike, thereby. presenting to the water side of the same a smooth surface which offers no impediment to floating debris or any projections in the path of the flood which may be damaged or cause damage to'the dike walls.

The invention also contemplates a base which upstanding position for use as a dike and between the walls of which recess and said panel corners yieldable sealing gaskets are arranged to elfect a watertight seal.

The-invention further embodies novel means normally retracted within the base and project-v able therefrom for anchoring the panel units to the base when. the same are disposed in an upstanding position for use as a dike wall.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, the invention is set forth in greater detail in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a riparian structure constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same employed as a thoroughfare.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the structure when converted to use as a dike.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the means for and manner in which the panel units are raised to dike forming position or lowered therefrom to serve as a thoroughfare.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure when the same is converted for use as a dike.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the structure when converted for use as a dike looking from the land side.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the coupling plates for anchoring the panel units in upstanding position for use as a dike wall,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the connection between adjacent panel units.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is fragmentary vertical sectional view showing an extension plate attached to the upper end of a panel unit for increasing the height of the dike wall.

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views, showing a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates generally the base of a riparian installation or structure which is preferably formed of poured concr te and includes a foundation portion l0 and a footing portion H which portions are disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other and arranged along the bank B of a waterway or equivalent body of water or adjacent to a water shed with the footing portion I I located nearer to the bank and the foundation portion remote therefrom,

The foundation and footing portions If! and H have their upper faces disposed in the same horizontal plane and are formed on their confrontin side faces with rabbeted upper corners definin angulated recesses l2 and I3 forming countersunk supporting ledges l4 and I5 lying in the same horizontal plane and serving a purpose.

which is hereinafter explained. The foundation and footing portions are connected by crosstie portions l6 which are spaced longitudinally of the installation, while located beneath and in spanning relation to certain pairs of adjacent crosstie portions and the confronting sides of the foundation and footing portions are bottom slabs l1 defining storage pockets I8 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

A plurality of panel units C are provided which are of a width to extend across the space between the foundation and footing II with the opposite edge portions thereof lying within the angulated recesses 12 and I3 and resting upon the ledges l4 and 15. As shown each of the panel units preferably consists of a plate sheet steel or equivalent material 20 which has sBcured to the rear surface of what constitutes the top and end edge portions thereof, when the units are arranged in an upstanding position, angles members 2| and to the remaining lower marginal edge portion a channel member 22, the latter defining an extra flange 23 spaced from and parallel to the plate 29 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The plates 20 of the units C are preferably reinforced by strengthening ribs 24 on their rear faces and in the preferred embodiment have swingably secured thereto on pivots 25 the brace arms 25 which are normally disposed beneath the panel units C when the same are arranged horizontally in end to end relation on the base A for use as a thoroughfare or promenade as shown in Fig. 1 and which are adapted, when the panel units are disposed upright, to be swung outwardly at an angle thereto, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

The panel units are secured, braced and anchored in upright position by any suitable means, the means being here disclosed as consisting of anchor bolts D, normally retracted to an inactive position located within the confines of the foundation portion In of the base A and projectable therefrom to active position protruding above the upper surface thereof. The bolts D each embody a shank 30 formed with heads 3| at their lower ends and having transverse slots 32 adjacent their upper terminals, the shanks being loosely slidable in vertical passages 33 formed in the foundation portion Hi. The upper ends of the passages open through the upper face of the portion l0 and extend downwardly therefrom with the lower ends thereof communicating with a horizontal well 34 wh ch extends through from opposite side faces of said foundation portion If), each end being provided with a cover 35 which is removable for gaining access to the well. The upper ends of the passages 33 are normally closed by covers 36 removably fitted there n and d sposed flush with the upper face of the foundation portion H) where they are suitably sealed in place to exclude dirt, moisture or other foreign matter.

The bo ts D, when proiected upwardly as shown in Fig. 4, have the slotted up er terminals protruding above the upper face of the foundation portion In and through the apertures 40 formed in the base plate 4| of coupling elements E after wh ch lock wedges 42 are driven through the slots 32 to anchor the coupling elements tothe base A. The coupling elements E also include upstanding spaced parallel ribs 43 formed adjacent the outer ends with aligned openings 44 which are designed to register with the openings 45 at the free ends of the brace arms 26 so as to receive therethrough the pins 46, the opposite terminals of which are transversely slotted to accommodate the lock wedges 41. The coupling elements E are each provided with an angulated inner end flange 48, the depending lower portion of which is fitted within the channel member 22 of the panel units C, while the base plate M is formed with slots 49 adjacent said inner end flange for the reception of lock wedges 58 driven between the end flange 48 and the extra flange 23 of the channel member 22 so as to draw and retain the lower corners of the panel units C into the angulated recess l2. Suitable yieldable gas- .kets 5| are disposed between the vertical wall of the recess 12 and the said extra flange 23 and between the ledge l4 and the lower edges of the panel units C to seal the juncture of the bottom of the dike wall with the foundation portion H) of the base A. It should here be noted that all of the anchoring and bracing means are disposed on the land side of the dike wall when erected so that only the smooth surfaces of the panel units are presented to the flood waters.

In order to facilitate the hoisting of the panel units C for conversion of the same from their use as a thoroughfare to their use as a dike wall, the bolts D may be utilized as means for temporarily anchoring the base 55 of a derrick F by project ing the slotted upper terminals of the shanks 30 through apertures 56 in said base and driving the lock wedges 42 therethrough. The hoisting cable 51 of the derrick is provided with a terminal hook 58 to engage within the aperture 59 in the plate 20 of the panel units C. During the hoisting operation, it is evident that the lower edges of the panel units C may slide along the cross tie portions l6 of the base A so that they will be guided into the recess l2, as illustrated in Fig. 3. After the panel unit is disposed in an upstanding position and secured in place by several of the coupling elements E and braced by the brace arms 26, the derrick F may then be removed and utilized to hoist another panel unit, the coupling elements E being then secured in the place formerly occupied by the base of the derrick.

Any suitable means may be employed for securing together the vertical edges of adjacent panel units C but, as shown in Fig. 7, this consists of forming the angle members 2| with registering opening 65 through which coupling pins 66 are engaged, said pins having heads 61 at one end and slots 68 adjacent the opposite end with lock wedges 69 driven therethrough to draw the units together and to retain the same in closely associated relation, with the gaskets 10' interposed therebetween to seal the joints against leakage.

In event of the contingency wherein one or more of the anchoring bolts may become jammed or frozen in the vertical passages 33 and cannot therefore be readily projected upwardly for active use, there is shown in Fig. 8 a modification and additional equipment which consists of an emergency fitting or adapter element G which is designed for attachment to the upper terminals of the bolts D. To employ the same, the uppermost end portion 15 of the vertical passages 33 are enlarged and are adapted to receive the lower bifurcated end 16 of the fitting or adapter element G, the furcations thereof being slotted to receive lock wedges I1 driven therethrough and through the slots 32 of the bolts D. The upper end portion 18 of the fitting or adapter elements G are slotted and are adapted to extend through the apertures 40 of the coupling elements E in the same manner as the upper terminals of the bolts p, It will be understood that this is an Asan additional precaution;x extension .,plates;

I-I may be provided for further increasing the height of the dike walland-said plates H, as disclosedrin Fig. 9, include a lowerflange 80 which are-apertured atfil so asto re ister WithJcOrreo d ne ap t re 2 inthe anses. of he an l members 2| at the upper edges of the panel units C, with lock pins and wedges 83 and 84 for connecting the same. Sealing gaskets 85 are disposed and clamped therebetween to prevent leakage and due to the fact that the extension plates are located at the place where the pressure of the water is least, it is obvious that the same requires no bracing.

The storage pockets I8 formed in the base A may serve as a repository for the coupling elements E, the lock wedges 42, the extension plates H or other loose parts of the structure where they will normally be covered and protected by the panel units C when the same are disposed horizontally thereover and employed as a thoroughfare. Additional parts such as the emergency fittings and the like may be stored in fire company houses, police stations or other places in the community in charge of responsible persons charged with the inspection and maintenance of the structure.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11, the panel units J are shown as swingably anchored to the base K to permit the panel units to be swung from a horizontal position overlying the base for use as a thoroughfare as illustrated in Fig. 10, to an upstanding position for use as a dike wall as illustrated in Fig. 11. The panel units are suitably supported, braced and sealed in any desired manner. such as disclosed in the previous form of the invention. In this adaptation of the invention, the foundation portion 90 of the base K is provided with an angulated recessed corner 9| adjacent to which the panel units J are anchored by hinges 92 so that the protruding edge portions 93 thereof, constituting the lower ends of the panel units when the same are arranged in upstanding position, are disposed within the angulated recessed corner 9| with a sealing gasket 94 interposed between said edge portions 93 and the vertical wall of the recessed corner, as shown in Fig. 11.

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible riparian structure for selective use as a thoroughfare and as a dike wall including panel units and a foundation so constructed as to define a depressed area in the upper surface thereof providing cross ties and oppositely disposed ledges for receiving and supporting the panel units in a horizontally disposed end to end relation with the upper surfaces of said units flush with the upper surface of the foundation to serve as a thoroughfare, means at one side of said foundation for anchoring said panel units in upstanding contiguous end to end relation with the lower side edges thereof disposed within and upon one of said ledges adjacent one side of the depressed area to function as a dike wall, yieldable gaskets interposed between the confronting edges of adjacent panel units and between the faces of the lower corners of the units and the adjacent walls of the depressed area of the foundation when said structure is used as a dike so as to seal said adjacent edges and coupling means secured to the anchoring means and engaging with and clamping the lower ends of the panel units within the 6 depressed area of the foundation and ;compress-.-. ing the gaskets therebetween.

2. A convertible riparian structure for selective use as a thoroughfare andasa-dike wall including panel units, a foundationso. constructed as to define oppositely disposed ledges for receiving. :and supporting the 1133.13.81 units? in;horie zontally disposed end to end .relationzto. serve =1 as a thoroughfare, said panel units being provided with channel shaped lower ends, channel shaped base plates secured upon said foundation with the inner ends thereof disposed in overlying spaced relation with one of said ledges, means engaging through the inner ends of said base plates and extending into and against the channel shaped ends of said panel units for anchoring the units in upstanding relation upon one of said ledges and brace arms secured to the outer ends of said base plates and to the upper ends of the panel units.

3. A convertible riparian structure for selective use as a thoroughfare and as a dike wall including panel units, a foundation so constructed as to define oppositely disposed ledges for receiving and supporting the panel units in horizontally disposed end to end relation to serve as a thoroughfare, said panel units being provided with channel shaped lower ends, base plates secured upon said foundation and formed with flanges at the inner ends thereof overlying the outermost flanges of the channel shaped ends of the panel units when the same are disposed in upstanding relation upon one of said ledges, means extending through said base plates adjacent said flanges and into and against the channel shaped ends of said panel units for anchoring the units in upstanding relation and brace arms secured to the outer ends of said base plates and to the upper ends of the panel units.

4. A convertible riparian structure for selective use as a thoroughfare and as a dike wall including panel units, a foundation extending along a riparian way constituting a support for the panel units disposed in a horizontal position contiguous to each other to serve as a thoroughfare and said foundation including a depressed ledge on one side of said thoroughfare for supporting the panel units in upstanding position and providing an abutment against which the lower end of the panels are positioned, base plates secured upon said foundation adjacent said ledge and means at the opposite ends of said base plate, engaging respectively with the upper and lower ends of the panel units for securing and bracing the units in upstanding position.

5. A convertible riparian structure for use as a thoroughfare and as a dike wall including panel units, a foundation extending along a riparian way constituting a support for the panel units disposed in a horizontal position contiguous to each other to serve as a thoroughfare, said foundation having a depressed ledge on one side of said thoroughfare for supporting the panel units in upstanding position and providing an abutment against which the lower ends of the panels are disposed, base plates secured upon said foundation adjacent said ledge, anchor bolts located in precast openings in said foundation and adapted to be positioned with the outer ends thereof engaging through said base plates for securing the base plates to the foundation and wedges engaging through the inner ends of said base plates for securing the lower ends of said panels in position on said depressed ledge and braces secured to the outer ends of said base plates and the upper ends of said panel members for UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Knight May 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany 1929 Italy 1933 

